Portfolio Etiquette

[ctatro]

I write for several graphic design firms and would like to include the projects I've written for them in my online portfolio. My plan was to show projects in PDF form so prospects could read the copy. Under each image would be the name of the designer and a link to the desiger's website.

The problem I'm running into is that although the designers are happy to let me show their work, they are understandably reluctant to have their projects shown on a site that also includes their competitors' work. Also, I use these firms when I have clients who need design as well as copy, which makes me a competitor of sorts.

Any ideas on how to ceate a portfolio that makes everybody happy? Thanks so much for any advice you can give!

[Terie]

Great question! Wish I could supply a great answer.

Others who work directly in the graphic design field might be able to provide more, but I'd say to start by checking how other designers display their portfolios. If it's common practice to display work they've done for competing clients, then that gives you a baseline to work from. Essentially, I guess I'm saying to check out your competition!

[ctatro]

Thank you, Terie! I've poked around the Web to see what other writers do, but haven't run across a similar situation. I am planning on naming the design firm for each project and including a link to their website. However, one firm in particular (and the one I do the most writing for) has made it very clear that they are doing me a huge favor by letting me show their projects in this context. So, I am hoping to find a way to showcase my writing in a way that is more palatable for them.

Thanks again for your suggestion--I appreciate it very much!

[dichucks]

I work for more than one ad agency. I don't name the agencies on my site. It's my portfolio. I'm showing what I can do as a writer, not what the companies or the art directors/designers I've worked with can do. If asked, I"ll say who did what. And if asked who I want to work with to do a freelance assignment, I'll give names. Not sure this'll help since you may be in a different situation, but just thought I'd share how I do it. -di

[Hip-Hop-a-potamus]

Have you run into any problems with confidentiality, etc?

I have work from three different companies in my portfolio, and I would never consider putting them online, for fear of being sued by having company-sensitive work out there. When I'm interviewing, I take hard copies of my documents with me so the interviewers can examine them and see that I know my stuff. Sometimes I'll send PDFs, but I prefer not to, especially if the company I'm interviewing with and the guide for a specific company I left are in the same industry.
HH

[ctatro]

Thank you both for your input!

I totally agree with you, dichucks. But this particular client won't let me show the projects I've written for them without including a credit line and a link to their website under every project. To be fair I'll also have to do that for the other designers, which gives visitors to my site almost 20 opportunities to click on the designers' links and thereby leave my site. So I'm trying to think of a way to effectively showcase my writing without showing the projects.

Hip-Hop-a-potamus, how do you promote your writing online without showing images of the projects? In answer to your question about confidentiality, I obtain written permission from all clients before including their images and testimonials. Also, all of my project estimates include a one-page Terms of Services agreement stating, among other things, that for promotional purposes I have the right to display the projects in any media. Hope that helps you!

ctatro

[dichucks]

I see your challenge now. I guess if I had that issue, I'd set up the home page listing what it is I do - i.e. print ads, brochures, direct mail, interactive, etc. And then, I'd list the clients I've worked for and have those be the links to my work. That way, each page can have one company on it and it won't be an issue of competitors on the same page. I did my home page by category. If you want to check it out, it's here I'm thinking of changing it to go by client since many times people look for writers by client experience in my field.

[ctatro]

That is an excellent idea, and just the solution I've been looking for! Thank you so much!!

[ctatro]

Di: Just ran your solution past my client and got the go-ahead. What a relief to have this issue resolved! Thanks again!

[dichucks]

Glad to be of help. Now, go get some more clients with that site! -di

[ctatro]

I'll do my best!